Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by aid workers is a grave violation of human rights and IOM is committed to combat any kind of SEA by its staff, related personnel and partners.

IOM’s zero tolerance policy also extends to IOM third party contracted staff, suppliers, service providers and implementing partners. With over 16,000 staff and over 6,000 related personnel, operating in 450 Offices, and 165 countries throughout the world, the impact of sexual exploitation and abuse on victims and within IOM’s operating environments, and the reputational risk it poses for the Organization needs to be addressed and remains a key priority.

The prevention of and response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) continues to gain momentum not only within the United Nations (UN) and Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) common systems but also amongst governments, institutional partners, media and the general public. Increased action is no longer a choice but a necessity, and the rights of the victim must be at the forefront.

Over the past decade, IOM has increasingly been seen as a strong player supporting the prevention and response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment within the UN, IASC, and amongst the humanitarian community.  While significant progress has been made to prevent and respond to SEA within the Organization such as through the development of innovative PSEA trainings, the development of a misconduct platform to report SEA, and extensive interagency collaboration on PSEA, more needs to be done within country and at the programmatic level and the role of the PSEA Officer will support these efforts.

In 2021, IOM developed its strategic approach toward the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment focusing on five priority areas: 1) Leadership and Organizational Culture; 2) Institutional Accountability and Transparency; 3) Capacity-Development, Training, and Communication; 4) Quality and Accessible Victim Assistance; 5) Partnership and Coordination.

Under the direct supervision of the of Chief of Mission South Africa and Sub-Regional Director for Southern Africa and technical support from the PSEAH Unit and other experts, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting and facilitating the technical oversight and day-to-day management of IOM’s prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) activities in country. As the technical PSEA expert in-country, the PSEA Officer will need to support implementation of PSEA activities within IOM and as an active member of the interagency PSEA Network. While the incumbent will support the PSEA agenda within country and will contribute technical inputs to PSEA within programming, the accountability for PSEA remains with the Chief of Mission South Africa and Sub-Regional Director for Southern Africa.

PSEA COORDINATION:

• Provide inputs for the development of an operational PSEA Work Plan, in line with IOM’s PSEA Strategy, the IASC’s PSEA Minimum Operating Standards (MOS), and the UNCT country level framework and work plan, through strategic workshops with IOM Heads of Units and other senior management at the country and programmatic levels, as assigned;
• Assist the in ensuring the resulting work plan is detailed and operational with clear actions, roles and responsibilities to deliver on the actions, timeframes, technical and resource requirements, and internal reporting requirements;
• Provide technical inputs for the inclusion of PSEA within IOM Country Office Strategy, programming, risk mitigation and management, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and budgeting; Contribute to the development of PSEA programming and liaison with relevant donors, as assigned.
• Actively participate to the in-country interagency PSEA Network (support in the development of the collective PSEA workplan, risk management plan, PSEA Strategies, Standard Operating Procedures for an inter-agency Community-Based Complaint Mechanism, etc), as well as actively participate within IOM internal and other interagency PSEA communication and coordination initiatives.
• In close coordination with the relevant colleagues, ensure that IOM’s PSEA prevention, mitigation and response mechanisms are in line with IOM’s global PSEA Strategy;
• Provide specific assistance to IOM teams, programmes and units to ensure the mitigation of SEA risks are developed, embedded and strengthened within all IOM programming and within HR practices; and,
• At all possible opportunities (during relevant trainings, in staff and programme meetings, through newsletters, in email messages, etc) continually share key messages on PSEA, including mandatory reporting requirements within the Country Office and programming, in close coordination with relevant colleagues.

PREVENTION:

• Analyze, compile and draft specific country-wide SEA risk assessment report to identify locations and programmes with the highest SEA risk; Check that the appropriate mitigation and response strategies within IOM programming and operations.
• Participate in the development of a training plan and coordinate the delivery and organization of PSEA trainings for IOM staff and related personnel, implementing partners[1], key institutional stakeholders; Support the work of identified PSEA Focal Points within Country to deliver key messaging and trainings as appropriate.
• On a yearly basis, provide an update on the number of staff, non-staff trained, contractors, implementing partners, and service providers trained in the Country Office on PSEA, in an effort to track compliance and facilitate the management of training delivery and refresher courses, in coordination with HR. Support the registration of all participants (staff and non-staff) within the IOM system and the delivery of certificates;
• Participate to the development of communication and awareness-raising strategies and tools to ensure appropriate PSEA messaging and knowledge on prohibited behaviours as well as how to report allegations of misconduct, including SEA within communities and amongst beneficiaries; facilitate the localization of SEA messaging; and,
• Map existing community engagement projects in Country Office and work with project leads to insert PSEA messages and/or gather community input where appropriate.

RESPONSE:

• Participate and provide inputs for the development of PSEA proposals and support the mainstreaming of PSEA within IOM programming; coordinate closely with institutional partners, governments, donors, and communities on PSEA needs and responses, as assigned.
• Support the development and provide inputs to reporting on PSEA and communication to highlight IOM’s PSEA work within programming.
• Provide inputs for the development and mapping of country-specific interagency victim assistance pathways and/or existing IOM programmes to refer victims for assistance and other support services.
• Coordinate referrals for victim assistance in coordination with gender-based violence and/or protection colleagues and support the strengthening of victim services within country and/or programming;
• Undertake duty travel as required; and,
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements